Historical Timeline

Commune at Ceresco established by followers of Warren Chase. While the commune was a success economically, eventually members began to desire more private and family space and the commune dissolved in 1850.

(11/23) East Hall “staking” — Captain David Mapes and others staked the area for the first building of the College (called Brockway College) as depicted in the Lester Schwartz painting on cover of the book, Ripon College: A History, by Robert Ashley and George Miller.

1851

(01/29) Charter for Ripon Lyceum granted by the State of Wisconsin — for preparatory division only. January 29 is the official date of the founding of Ripon College and the customary date for the celebration of Founders Day each year

1853

(06/01) Preparatory Department for women opened

(/09) Preparatory Department for men opened

1854

Republican Party name proposed at meeting in Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon

1855

(02/09) Second charter of Ripon College adopted–“since there was some question as to the legality of the first one.” (Dorothy Crain ’32 — Research paper in Archives)

Middle College (Smith Hall) construction begun

1857

First formal campus debate — Resolution: “A bad education is worse than no education at all.”

College closed for one year because of the Civil War. Buildings occupied by the First Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment– buildings lent to U.S. government

1862

Edward H. Merrell started at Ripon College — became principal of Preparatory Department and Professor of Languages, and later, second president of College

1863

(09) Collegiate courses opened

William E. Merriman became first president of the College

Ripon College –new name adopted about this time as new State charter used Ripon College name

The first president’s house was built but owned by President Merriman. When he left, he sold the house which passed through three different hands and then was exchanged for President’s Flagg’s house–Harwood House–in 1901

First dramatic society was organized by students and faculty.–The Dramatic Club

1876

William E. Merriman retired as president

Edward H. Merrell became second president

Dawes Cottage built, owned by E.H. Merrell

Chemical Laboratory building built — Athenian Hall

John G. Ingalls, Class of 1876, donated the land which became Ingalls Field

1877

A small one-story frame building known as the Observatory or the Laboratory was constructed just east of the present site of Lane Library. Although used by all the sciences for a time, it was designed principally for chemistry and astonomy. It included a chemistry lab, a chemistry lecture room with facilities for demonstrations, and a”considerable amount of apparatus from Germany.” For a time, astronomy had to get along with a transit telescope and a “slit in the roof,” but it soon acquired ‘a fine astronomical clock” and a much larger telescope.

Fall of 1880-81, calendar was altered to make the winter break include Christmas

1881

First reported football contest at Ripon–an intramural game between members of the Economia Club and another organization known as the Spartans

1882

East Hall rebuilt and enlarged

(11/17) Football game between Ripon and Lawrence; start of the oldest college football rivalry in the Middle West

1887

Dawes Cottage used as girl’s dorm

From the College Days, vol. VII no. 1, October 1887, under Local, p. 13, upper right-hand corner, 2nd column: “Ripon College has a young colored student from the northwestern part of the state. His is a bright, wide-awake fellow, and to the credit of the boys may it be said,he is well received and joins in base ball (sic) and other games in full accord. [Ex.]”

1888

Bartlett Hall built as first women’s dormitory building on campus with funds from Mrs. Lucy Bartlett, in honor of her late husband, Sumner Bartlett.

Courses of study are “remodeled” and include electives, and changes in requirements for Greek and Latin.

Ingram Hall constructed. Classes held there in 1901. Ingram was intended as the Science building for the campus, but evolved into a general purpose classroom building. The library was housed there for a while.

1901

Dr. Rufus Cushman Flagg resigned as president

Dr. Richard Cecil Hughes became fourth president of the College

Economia Club ends

President’s Merriman’s house switched to College –Harwood House

1903

Middle College renamed Smith Hall in honor of donor who gave major funds for renovation at that time. Smith Hall was a men’s dormitory for many years, before it was converted to an administration building.

1905

West Hall dining facilities opened–the Commons served all campus except Merriman House

Death of Mrs. Clarissa Tucker Tracy, “Mother of Ripon College”

1906

Sir Thomas Lipton visits campus

1907

History Club organized

Science Club organized

Crimson (student yearbook) first published. The earliest Crimson bound separately in the Archives collection is the 1907 edition. There is then a gap until 1910. Early years of the Crimson tended to be a record not of the year on their cover but of one or two years earlier. Indexing can be found at the back for many years, but not all. The humor sections at the back of early issues are full of bad jokes and puns and comments on students (like Spencer Tracy in the early 1920s)

Ripon Alumnus publication began. A very good source of information on the accomplishments of alumni, events at the College, and opinions and reminiscences of alums. Edited for a long period by Clem Lueck.

Silas Evans, fifth president, begins first term as president of the College

Memorial Gymnasium built [1910 -11] — known as Indoor Athletic Field and had an indoor track. Later used for Registration and for the Milwaukee Symphony (until 1990s) as well as student dances and other events and intramural sports.

Ripon 1910 Historical Pageant, written and organized by Professor Boody, produced on Ripon campus (Text available in Archives booklet collection.)

1913

Pi Kappa Delta, national forensic fraternity, organized by Egbert Ray Nichols, who was first national president

First dance on campus–First Junior Prom

1916

Ripon College purchased Harwood House.

1917

[1917-21] Sanford House (on present site of Merriman House) acquired by College

Silas Evans, fifth President, ends first term as President

Dr. Henry Coe Culbertson becomes sixth President of the College, between terms of Evans; lived in Parkhurst House on Thorne Street during his presidential term. Evans used Hughes House as the President’s House in both of his terms.

College offers facilities to U.S. government for student Army Training Corps

Midwest College Conference membership

1918

College acquires Duffie House; deeded to the College by Shirley Farr, a trustee

1919

ROTC unit established at Ripon College, one of only two in Wisconsin, the other at Madison

Mask and Wig plays ended in Little Theater, East Hall, after many successful productions

Rollin H. Lane (former student) gave $100,000 for new library and construction began

George Whiting left $62,500 to Ripon College

( 01) Athenian Hall moved to Ingalls Field, from current site of Lane Library. Athenian Hall was converted into a field house, used for changing rooms for athletes playing at Ingalls Field

Memorial Gymnasium remodeled.

Girls’ Orchestra of Ripon College organized.

1931

Men’s and women’s glee clubs combined

( 01) Lane Library open for students to use

Middle College (Smith Hall) burned–rebuilt immediately

General Education Board completes $133,333 conditional gift

06 15 Lane Library dedication.

01 Smith Hall fire. Building razed and rebuilding begun. In 1931, while it was being used as a dormitory, a fire at noontime in Smith Hall caused serious damage to the interior of the building. Students, some of whom tried to rescue their possessions from fire escaped without major injury, but the driver of the fire engine died of a heart attack while on way to the fire.

1936

Cooperative arrangement with Massachusetts Institute of Technology started for engineering degree

1939

[1939-40] Sanford House razed for construction of Merriman House

Heating Plant built

Ripon College sold Ingalls Field to the City of Ripon; field still used for home football games and other events.

Evans Hall–Tri-Dorm–constructed. Intended as men’s housing, but has housed women for much of its existence. Later extensively remodelled in 1988 during President Stott’s term.

Merriman House built; originally owned by the fraternity as a separate facility from the College; built on site of former Sanford House which was razed in 1939

Honorary Degree given to Spencer Tracy at Commencement.

1941

Ripon is placed on the eligible list of universities and college of the University Club of New York City

1942

Frank J. Harwood Memorial Union completed.

1944

Dr. Clark Kuebler becomes eighth President of the College

The Mace arrives at Ripon during President Kuebler’s term

Arrangement with Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University started

Wendell L.Wilkie visted Ripon during his Republican presidential campaign for the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Republican Party.

Frank J. Harwood Memorial Union dedicated.

1945

( 07) WWII ship named after city and college–“SS Ripon Victory”

1946

Professor Henry Boody retired; had been the mentor to Spencer Tracy as well as being a major force in the drama productions during his career at Ripon College. Wrote the 1910 Pageant and at least two other pageants celebrating communities in the Fox Valley and their history.

1947

15 year development program launched to add $5,710,000 to buildings and endowment

College Art Gallery set up in Harwood Union; later moved to College Library gallery and then to Rodman

GE College Bowl–Ripon appeared four times on National Television; team advised by Spud Hannaford was composed of three men and one woman student

( 05/23) Dedication of Pickard Commons

1964

Chapel erected in Harwood Union; replaced in 1994 by the RC Multicultural Lounge

Forward Thrust Fund established

(05) Red Barn Theatre (where Harrison Ford and Frances Lee McCain starred in productions while students) burned in a fire. (Located on present site of Johnson Hall.) Old Lutheran Church was converted into a theater

1965

Fourth quad built — Bovay Hall

Boiler plant remodeled and expanded; in 1994 campus heating system was again extensively updated

( 11/ 03) Brand Rex Coffee House opened in the church building next to the Congregational Church through the efforts of Professors Seale Doss and others. Students and faculty gave readings and held discussions here. Brand Rex was the name on the telephone cable holders that were used as tables in the coffee house.

1966

Dr. Frederick O. Pinkham resigns as President of the College

Dr. Bernard S. Adams becomes tenth President of the College

Tri-Dorms remodeled

Addition to Johnson Hall completed.

(02) Construction is begun on Kemper Building

Five-story addition to Scott Hall completed.

1967

( 05/06) President Adams’ inauguration

President’s House built at One Merriman Lane, replacing Hughes House as the President’s House

Began computer services by remote terminal on rental basis

Ingram Hall (approximately located between site of present Farr Hall and Todd Wehr Hall) was razed. Picture of Ingram Hall just before being razed with Todd Wehr Hall in background

( 05 06) Dedication of James S. Kemper Building–Kemper Clinic, the campus health service and offices of physicians who also had private practices. Now the Computer Center

J.M. Storzer Physical Education Center built.

“College within a college” experiment in living group seminars at Hughes House, with 15 freshman women; experiment ended because of a fire shortly after the beginning of 2nd semester 1967-68.

1968

Began computer use through time-sharing

Bonn (Germany) program initiated with students in attendance for the first time.

Renaming of Quads and administration building–North Hall became Smith Hall; South Hall became Mapes; Center Hall became Brockway (Dormitories) and Smith Hall became Middle Hall (Administration)

( 05) Construction begun on C. J. Rodman Center for the Arts; in the 1990s the Caestaker wing was added.

1972

( 06) Duffie House razed.

(06) Hall House razed.

(10/ 27) Dedication of C. J. Rodman Center for the Arts

First varsity soccer season started Fall semester 1972

1973

$1,054,000 received for addition to Lane Library

1974

Wehr Learning Resource Center built onto back of Lane Library

Lowe House sold

1975

Director of Libraries, William Brandt, establishes the official Ripon College Archives in Lane Library, after a sabbatical studying archival methods at UW-Madison; Brandt remained Archivist until 1986 when Louise Schang, current Archivist, was hired on a part-time (4 hours a week) basis

(04/26 )Wehr Learning Resources Center dedicated

Harwood House (corner of Thorne and Woodside) razed.

1976

Long-term capital funds program authorized–“Foundations for 2001”

Ransom House (corner of Ransom and Blossom Streets) sold by Ripon College

Lee Shippey designed the cupola logo which is used on stationery and other College items. Lee also created the design for some of the early tee shirts for Alumni Weekend and helped with the labels for the museum when it was first started. Currently she is the Director of the Art Slides Project in the Art Department in Rodman

199?

RC Multicultural Lounge, in the former chapel space of Harwood Union, was dedicated to the late Professor Robert Cole of the History Department; in 1996 a mural by the students in the Painting class of Anne Farley-Gaines was painted around the walls of the room.

Education department moved from West Hall to Todd Wehr and the Romance and Classical Languages department moved to third floor of West Hall which was remodeled for their use.

Caestaker addition to Rodman completed and dedicated. Included custom- designed art gallery, three-dimensional studios for pottery and sculpture and painting and drawing classrooms among other features, such as glass display areas for student work.

The heating and wiring systems of the College underwent extensive updating.

Signs directing motorists were erected along Highway 41 and others as well as in the city of Ripon to make the College more accessible

1991

(?) The nickname of the College was changed from Red Men and Red Ladies (formerly Redmen) to Red Hawks and new logos were designed.

(05) Decommissioning of the Ripon unit of ROTC at Commencement; unit no longer a host unit, but grouped with Marion College, St. Norbert and UW-Oshkosh, with the PMST at UW-O.

1995

(10/) First annual Homecoming reunion dinner for ROTC alumni

Scott Hall remodeled; partially air-conditioned

Teri Tomaszkiewicz of the Office of Development appeared on David Letterman show in a Ripon College sweatshirt to distribute Rippin Good cookies to the audience

New directional signs were erected on the campus, indicating building names and sites

President Ranslow signed the contract to install an automated system in the College Library; Roslin, the automated catalog, was available for use in January 1996 as was the new automated circulation system

The Anthropology/Sociology department moved into its newly remodeled headquarters in the basement of West Hall in time for Fall Semeter; extensive remodeling was done at this time.

ROTC headquarters were moved to smaller, but remodeled section in the basement of West Hall for the Fall of 1995

The First Year Program began, with a ten-week class taught on Tuesday evenings to introduce incoming new students to academic and campus concerns. The courses were taught by professors from a variety of disciplines.

A history of the Ripon unit of Ripon College, written and edited by students under the direction of Professor William Woolley, was published, in cooperation with Loren Boone and the Office of College Relations. A revised edition is anticipated, time and resources permitting.

New tennis courts (possible through donation from Trustee Audrey Lyke and her husband, Doug, were constructed adjacent to Storzer Gymnasium.

New baseball diamond (made possible by Trustee Patricia Francis) and practice fields were constructed near Storzer.

Coach Elaine Coll was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. She led Riponwomen into intercollegiate competition in the 1970s, changing the nature of women’s sports at the College

William R. Stott, Jr., resigned as President of the College.

Paul Ranslow became the twelfth President of the College

Maymester class sessions began; approved by Faculty in Spring of 1995

1996

The winningest coach in college baseball joined the staff of Ripon College–Coach Gordon Gillespie, father of Coach Bob “Gilly” Gillespie

(07) The Faculty/Staff mailroom was moved to Harwood Memorial Union and merged with the student mail facility. A lounge area and reading rack were made the center of the room, which features the original metal mail slots from Middle Hall.